Community Service

The Thunder Bay Quilter’s Guild is involved with many community groups.

Quilt Bees

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One of the things this Guild has become known for is its generosity and community service projects. As a Guild, we get together for 2 days each the Fall and Spring to do an intensive Quilt Bee. This is not your bee from years ago with little old ladies sitting around doing hand work. There are heaps of fabric donated by members, lots of machines (many computerized) and lots of eager quilters doing some of the latest techniques. Quilts are cut using rotary cutters and accurate rulers. There are also some people who get together as small groups and do mini bees. From these bees we produce on average 125-150 quilts per year.

Over the last 15 years the Guild has made and distributed approximately 1500 comfort quilts. The most productive year to date was 1999-2000 when 209 quilts were donated. The guild have developed guidelines as to which organizations receive the quilts and how they are donated. These are donated to community groups such as:

  • St Joseph’s Hospital
  • Hospice
  • Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre (Maternal Care, Neo-Natal, Nursery, Paeds )
  • Lakehead Psychiatric Hospital
  • George Jeffrey Children’s Centre
  • Wesway Respite Care
  • Faye Peterson Shelter
  • Shelter House
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • Evangelical Church
  • Institute for the Blind
  • Dawson Court
  • Pioneer Ridge
  • Grandview
  • Pinewood Court
  • Central Park Lodge
  • Amethyst House
  • Cancer Centre
  • Bearskin Air Lines Hope Classic
  • St. Joseph Heritage
  • Wequedong lodge

Recommended sizes:

  • Hospice Beds 63” x 80”
  • Neo Natal 36” x 45”
  • Crib/Bassinet 34” x 48”
  • Wheel Chair 36” x 48”
  • Recliner chair/Nap Quilt 42” x 60”

Placemats

One of our on-going projects is sewing placemats which are then presented to Meals on Wheels.  Each new client is given a handmade placemat to enjoy their meals with.

We also donate placemats to the annual Empty Bowls Caring Hearts event. Come out to the Placemat Bee on April 10 – click here for more information

Want a simple pattern for a placemat to use up those scraps or to make for Meals on Wheels or Empty Bowls? Then check out the Moda Fabrics free patterns website and go to the Silent Night Batik Table runner pattern.  It has a table runner and placemats.  The square on point would be great if you fussy cut a fabric with a nice feature print or try some machine quilting. Or download one of these from Nelly: Bargello placemat pattern or Diagonal placemat pattern

Recommended size for a placemat is 12” x 18”.

Quilts for Teddies and Toys

In November, Guild members donate small quilts, each with an accompanying stuffed toy or doll, which are given to children in the community through the Christmas Cheer fund.